Electronic device and information reproducing system

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a cabinet containing an electronic circuit; a covering member containing wire rods connected to the electronic circuit and led to the outside through an opening of the cabinet; a pivoting convex portion provided in one of the covering member and the cabinet; and a pivoting concave portion provided in the other of the covering member and the cabinet supports the pivoting convex portions, wherein the covering member is pivotally supported with respect to the cabinet. A pivot-supporting unit is provided in a connection cable, whereby pivoting the connection cable through the pivoting unit allows the lead-out direction of the connection cable from an opening of the cabinet to the outside to be selectively changed between a direction in which the connection cable is led downward from the lower surface of the cabinet and a direction sideways intersecting therewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic device in which wire rodsconnected to an electronic circuit are led outside through an opening ofa housing, and by pivoting a covering member containing the wire rodsand a pivoting unit provided in the housing, a lead-out direction of thecovering member with respect to the housing can be changed; and aninformation reproduction system provided with the electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been generally provided an electronic devicecomprising an information reproducing device which reproduces andoutputs information recorded on a disc-type storage medium, a controldevice which displays information on a screen of a display unit, basedon a signal reproduced by the information reproducing device, and theelectronic device in which the control device and the informationreproducing device are connected by a connecting cable wire to be used.

As such an electronic device, for example, an electronic devicecomprising a DVD player as an information reproducing device, atelevision set as a control device provided with a cathode-ray tube as adisplay unit, and a connection cable for electrically connecting thetelevision set and the DVD player may be listed.

In the above example, the television set has been sufficiently large,and the DVD player has also been comparatively large as an electronicdevice. Accordingly, these television set and the DVD player have beenfixed indoors to be used, and there has been no idea of using the abovedevices for outdoor amusement.

As a conventional support structure of a connection cable in such anelectronic device, a support structure, for example, shown in FIG. 35has been widely known. In FIG. 35, a reference numeral 200 represents aconnection cable led out from the housing of a control device. Theconnection cable 200 comprises: a number of wire rods 202 connected toan electronic circuit contained in a housing 201; a pipe-like coveringmember 203 which contains a number of wire rods 202; and support bodies204 fixed at both ends of the covering member 203 in the longitudinaldirection.

The support body 204 is provided to support one end of the connectioncable 200 by fixing the above end at the housing 201. On the outercircumferential surface of the support body 204, two ring-shaped convexportions 204 a and 204 b are formed by providing an annular groove 205extending in the circumferential direction. A through hole 206 engagedwith the support body 204 is provided in one corner of the lower part ofthe housing 201.

At the inside of the corner of the housing 201, there is provided a wallportion 207 which fixes the support body 204 to the housing 201 byholding the ring-shaped convex portion 204 b of the support body 204. Byholding the ring-shaped convex portion 204 b with the wall portion 207and the side surface portion of the housing 201, the connection cable200 is fixed and supported by the housing 201.

Also, a method without providing the above-described wall portion 207,in which the connection cable 200 is fixed by holding the side surfaceportion of the housing only with one pair of ring-shaped convex portions204 a and 204 b of the support body 204, has been generally used.

Such conventional electronic devices, however, had a structure in whichthe connection cable 200 is fixed and supported with the support body204 being held by the side surface portion and the wall portion 207 ofthe housing 201, or with the side surface portion of the housing 201being held by one pair of ring-shaped convex portions 204 a and 204 b ofthe support body 204. Therefore, there has been a problem that thelead-out direction of the connection cable 200 led outside from thehousing 201 was fixed in one direction, and the lead-out direction wasnot freely changed by the user according to a state of use.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Considering the above circumstances, the present invention proposes: anelectronic device in which a pivoting unit is provided in a supportingunit of a connection cable supported by a housing, and the lead-outdirection of the connection cable may be changed by pivoting thepivoting unit to lead out the connection cable in an arbitrary directionaccording to a state of use regarding the electronic device; and aninformation reproduction system in which the above electronic device andan information reproducing device are electrically connected with wirerods.

In order to solve the above-described problems and the like, and toachieve the above-described object, an electronic device according tothe present application comprises: a housing in which an electroniccircuit is contained; a covering member containing wire rods which areconnected to the electronic circuit and led outside through an openingof the housing; a pivoting convex portion provided in one of thecovering member and the housing; and a pivoting concave portion which isprovided in the other of the covering member and the housing, andsupports the pivoting convex portions, wherein the covering member ispivotally supported with respect to the housing.

Further, an information reproduction system according to the presentapplication comprises: an electronic device which includes a housingcontaining an electronic circuit, a covering member containing wire rodswhich are connected to the electronic circuit and led outside through anopening of the housing, a pivoting convex portion provided in one of thecovering member and the housing, and a pivoting concave portion which isprovided in the other of the covering member and the housing, andsupports the pivoting convex portion; and an information reproducingdevice which is connected to the electronic device through the wirerods, wherein the covering member is pivotally supported with respect tothe housing.

According to the above-described configuration, in the electronic deviceof the present application the lead-out direction in which theconnection cable is led out from the housing to the outside may bechanged by pivoting the pivoting unit which comprises the pivotingconvex portion and the pivoting concave portion. As a result, theconnection cable may be arbitrarily positioned corresponding to a stateof use regarding the electronic device, and that is for the benefit ofthe user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a system configuration of aninformation reproduction system including an electronic device accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an outside perspective view of a DVD player showing oneembodiment of an information reproducing device according to theinformation reproduction system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a battery housing, which is cut into halves,of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a player main unit of the DVD player shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the battery housing, which is cut into halves,of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the player main unit of the DVD player shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the player main unit of the DVD player shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state in which an opening andclosing cover of the player main unit of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2is open;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the opening and closing cover, which isseen from the lower side, of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of an enlarged arm piece of the openingand closing cover shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory sectional view of the main parts of a firstfriction mechanism provided between the opening and closing cover andthe player main unit of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the battery housing, which is opened,of the DVD player shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory sectional view of the main parts of a secondfriction mechanism provided in the battery housing of the DVD playershown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing main parts of an enlarged bucklewhich is seen from the right side of the player main unit shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the main parts of the enlarged buckle whichis seen from the upper side of the player main unit shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory cutaway view of a part of a holding stand in astate of electric power being charged into the DVD player shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 19A is a front view of an electronic device according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19B is a side view of the electronic device according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19C is an enlarged perspective view of a spring pin of theelectronic device according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the electronic device of FIG. 19, wherein acover is opened;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of the electronic device of FIG. 20,wherein a display device is cut at the center to show a main part;

FIG. 22A is a side view of explaining the electronic device according tothe first embodiment of the present invention put under use, wherein thecover is opened at an angle of slightly smaller than 90 degrees;

FIG. 22B is a side view of explaining the electronic device according tothe first embodiment of the present invention put under use, wherein thecover is opened at an angle of approximately 90 degrees;

FIG. 23A is a side view of explaining the electronic device according tothe first embodiment of the present invention put under use, wherein thecover is opened as a stand at an angle of approximately 270 degrees;

FIG. 23B is a side view of explaining the electronic device according tothe first embodiment of the present invention put under use, wherein thecover is opened at an angle of 360 degrees;

FIG. 24A is a side view of an electronic device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention, wherein a cover is closed;

FIG. 24B is a side view of the electronic device according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover is opened at anangle of approximately 90 degrees;

FIG. 24C is a side view of the electronic device according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover is opened at anangle of approximately 270 degrees;

FIG. 25 is a side view of an electronic device according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention, wherein a cover is closed;

FIG. 26A is a side view of an electronic device according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention, wherein a cover is closed;

FIG. 26B is an explanatory view of a clicking circular plate in theelectronic device according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the plate is enlarged and exploded;

FIG. 27A is a side view of an electronic device according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention, wherein a cover is closed;

FIG. 27B is a side view of the electronic device according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover is opened at anangle of approximately 180 degrees;

FIG. 27C is a side view of the electronic device according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover is opened at anangle of 360 degrees and is in contact with the rear surface of theelectronic device;

FIG. 28A is a front view of an electronic device according to a sixthembodiment of the present invention, wherein a cover is closed;

FIG. 28B is a side view of the electronic device according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention, wherein the cover is closed;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view of a cabinet of an electronic deviceaccording to the first embodiment, wherein the cabinet is exploded intothe front surface and the rear surface to show the main part.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of one end of a connection cable of theelectronic device shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 31 is an explanatory sectional view showing the connection cableand a cabinet, which are connected to each other, of the electronicdevice shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 32 is an explanatory view showing a pivoting state of theconnection cable supported by the cabinet of the electronic device shownin FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of aconnection method by which a connection cable and a cabinet of theelectronic device shown in FIG. 1 are connected;

FIG. 34 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the electronicdevice shown in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment is used; and

FIG. 35 is an explanatory sectional view showing a supported state ofthe connection cable of a conventional electronic device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described,referring to attached drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 34 show embodiments of aninformation reproduction system including an electronic device accordingto the present invention, and the system is configured to be a portableDVD player.

As shown in FIG. 1, the DVD player 1 comprises: a player main unit 6 forDVD (Digital Versatile Disc); a control device 2 which represents onespecific example of an electronic device for performing remote controloperations of the player main unit 6; and a battery housing 3 whichsupplies electric power to the control device 2 and the player main unit6.

The player main unit 6 and the control device 2 are connected through afirst connection cable 4 which is signal transmission means. Moreover,the player main unit 6 and other electronic devices (for example, atelevision set) are connected to each other through a second connectioncable 5 which is also signal transmission means.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 13, the player main unit 6 has a shell-shapedbody in which a terrace-type protruding portion 6 a is provided at apart of a disc shape body in the circumferential direction. A dischousing unit 7 which comprises a circular recess is provided on theupper surface of the player main unit 6. The disc housing unit 7 isopened and closed with an opening and closing cover 8 which also has asimilar shell shape. Further, a buckle 9 which locks the opening andclosing cover 8 in a closed state is provided in the player main unit 6.

As shown in FIG. 10, a disc drive device 10 elastically supported by theplayer main unit 6 is disposed in the disc housing unit 7 of the playermain unit 6. The disc drive device 10 comprises a turntable 11 arrangedin the center part of the disc housing unit 7, and an optical pickupdevice 12 which executes either or both of reproduction (read) andrecording (write) of information signals on an information storagesurface of an optical disc such as DVD and CD (compact disc) whichrepresent specific examples of a disc-type storage medium installed onthe turntable 11.

Though not shown in the drawings, the turntable 11 is fitted on arotation unit of a spindle motor which is fixed to a housing at thefixed unit. Further, the optical pickup device 12 is slidably supportedby a pair of guide shafts which are fixed to the housing. The pair ofguide shafts are arranged parallel to each other at a predeterminedinterval, with their front ends being arranged such that the spindlemotor is held thereby, and their rear ends being extended backward.

The upper surface of the disc drive device 10 is covered with a coverplate 13. A circular central hole 14 a, and an opening portion 14 b in along-hole shape, which continuously extends backward from the centralhole 14 a are provided on the cover plate 13. And, the turntable 11 isprotruding upward from the central hole 14 a, and an optical head of theoptical pickup device 12 is inserted into the opening portion 14 b. Anobjective lens 15 of the optical head is provided to face theinformation storage surface of the disc installed on the turntable 11.

The turntable 11 has an engagement portion 11 a engaged with the centerhole of the optical disc, and a mounting portion 11 b integrally formedwith the engagement portion 11 a, on which a periphery portion of thecentral hole of the optical disc is mounted. A plurality of engagementpawls are circumferentially provided approximately at equal intervals inthe engagement portion 11 a of the turntable 11. Each engagement pawl isconstituted to be movable in the radial direction of the mountingportion 11 a and is constantly forced outward in the radial direction bysprings.

The engagement portion 11 a may be engaged with the center hole of theoptical disc by moving the engagement pawls backward against the forceof the springs. In such an engagement state, each engagement pawl isengaged with and fixed to the periphery of the central hole by the forceof the springs. Then, the optical disc is chucked and driven tointegrally rotate with the turntable 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, the opening and closing cover 8 overlapped on theupper surface of the player main unit 6 is comprised of a protrudingportion 8 a corresponding to the protruding portion 6 a of the playermain unit 6 and a side surface portion 8 b extending downward from theouter periphery of the protruding portion 8 a, that is, toward the lowersurface side. In addition, a pair of L-shaped arm pieces 17 and 17,which are protruding toward the lower surface side, are provided in theprotruding portion 8 a of the opening and closing cover 8 shaftreceiving holes 17 a which provide a pivoting center to the player mainunit 6 are provided in the tip ends of each arm piece 17.

Further, through holes 17 b are provided in each bent portion of armpieces 17. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a steel spherical body 100 isengaged and fixed into one of the through holes 17 b of the arms 17 byfixing means such as caulking and press fitting, which shows onespecific example of a sliding body. The diameter of the spherical body100 is selected to be slightly larger than the thickness of the armpieces 17, and to protrude sideways from the both surfaces of the armpiece 17.

The pair of the arm pieces 17 and 17 are formed integrally as connectedto each other by a cross-linking plate 101, and, also, to be fixed onthe lower surface of the protruding portion 8 a. This pair of the armpieces 17 and 17 are inserted into the inside of the player main unit 6,passing through slit openings 102 and 102 which are provided in theprotruding portion 6 a of the player main unit 6. Moreover,smaller-diameter shaft portions 18 a provided on the ends of asupporting shaft 18 are each engaged and fixed integrally to shaftreceiving hole 17 a of the arm pieces 17 by the fixing means such aspress fitting, respectively. Each supporting shaft 18 is supported byshaft receiving bracket 103. And, the shaft-receiving bracket 103 isfixed to the player main unit 6 by the fixing means such as fixingscrews 104.

A pair of the supporting shafts 18 and 18 are inserted into the insideof the player main unit 6 from the sides as opposing to each other. Thesmaller-diameter shaft portions 18 a in the tips of each supportingshaft 18 engage each shaft receiving hole 17 a of the arm pieces 17,respectively. The opening and closing cover 8 is pivoted in anup-and-down manner with the pair of the supporting shafts 18 and 18being a pivot center to open and close the disc housing unit 7.

A leaf spring 106 is fixed with a fixing screw 105 on theshaft-receiving bracket 103. The leaf spring 106 has a U-shape, and thefixing screw 105 passes through a fixed piece 106 a which is one part ofthe U-shape leaf spring. A spring piece 106 b of the other part of theU-shape leaf spring 106 is protruding to the other side such that thespherical body 100 is held, and the spring piece 106 b is forced toelastically press the outer spherical surface of the spherical body 100.The spherical body 100, the shaft receiving bracket 103, and the leafspring 106 form a first friction mechanism.

The first friction mechanism is provided to give constant magnitude offriction force between the player main unit 6 and the opening andclosing cover 8 such that the opening and closing cover 8 may be openedand closed with a constant strength (frictional force). Specifically,frictional force with a suitable magnitude is generated by the springforce of the leaf spring 106 between the spherical body 100 and theshaft receiving brackets 103, and between the spherical body 100 and thespring piece 106 b of the leaf spring 106, and the frictional forcesenable the opening and closing cover 8 to constantly move with apredetermined magnitude of force.

With the first friction mechanism provided, the opening and closingcover 8 may be pivoted around a pivoting center at the supporting shafts18 with a constant magnitude of force regardless of an elevation angle,and the opening and closing cover 8 may also be stopped at an arbitraryopening and closing angle. The disc housing unit 7 is completely closedwith the opening and closing cover 8 being pushed down to cover theplayer main unit 6.

In this case, a cover opening and closing switch which is the firstdetector is operated by an opening and closing detection piece 19provided on the opening and closing cover 8, and a state in which theopening and closing cover 8 is closed is detected. The opening andclosing detection piece 19 is arranged at the side of the free end ofthe side surface portion 8 b of the opening and closing cover 8 (at theopposite side to the arm pieces 17). Corresponding to the opening andclosing detection piece 19, a detection hole 20 for the opening andclosing cover 8 is provided on the disc housing unit 7 of the playermain unit 6. The cover opening and closing switch is arranged at theinside of the detection hole 20.

Furthermore, the buckle 9 is pivotally installed on a front surfacewhich is the opposite side to the protruding portion 6 a of the playermain unit 6. As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the buckle 9 has a shapefit for the shape of the side surface of the player main unit 6 suchthat the buckle 9 is fixed on the side surface thereof, and is joined tothe player main unit 6 with a hinge at one side in the width directionperpendicular to the circumferential direction.

That is, shaft receiving portions 9 a are provided at one side of thebuckle 9 in the width direction, and are inserted between a pair ofshaft receiving convex portions 6 b and 6 b of the player main unit 6. Ahinge unit 21 is formed by passing a pivoting shaft 21 a through thepair of shaft receiving convex portions 6 b and 6 b, and the shaftreceiving portions 9 a. A notch 22, in which the buckle 9 is movablyfixed at the side of the free end, is provided on the upper surface ofthe player main unit 6, which is at the opposite side to the hinge unit21.

An opening window 24 is provided approximately in the center part of thebuckle 9. A beam receiving unit 23 of the remote control device, whichwill be described later, provided approximately in the center part ofthe notch 22 of the player main unit 6 is inserted into the openingwindow 24. The beam receiving unit 23 is constructed to have beamreceiving surfaces on two surfaces, that is, the front and uppersurfaces of the player main unit 6, and the beam receiving surface atthe front side is exposed through the opening window 24.

Furthermore, an engagement body 9 b engaging and holding the opening andclosing cover 8 is provided in the buckle 9 such that the engagementbody 9 b can move forward and backward by a forward/backward operationmechanism. The forward/backward operation mechanism comprises: a spring150 which forces the engagement body 9 b to be pressed constantlyoutward; a sliding member 151 which makes the engagement body 9 b moveforward and backward against the spring force of the spring 150; aspring member 152 which forces the sliding member 151 to move in thereturning direction; a holder 153 which holds the above members; aplurality of fixing screws 154 which fixes the holder 153 to the insideof the buckle 9, and the like. Cam portions 155 a and 155 b protrudingin the directions opposite to each other are provided in the engagementbody 9 b and the sliding member 151, respectively.

An engagement receiving unit 26 with which the engagement body 9 bengages in a detachable manner is provided approximately in the centerpart at the side of the free end of the opening and closing cover 8,corresponding to the engagement body 9 b of the buckle 9. The engagementreceiving unit 26 of the opening and closing cover 8 is insertedapproximately into the center part of the notch 22 in a state in whichthe disc housing unit 7 is closed. The tip of the engagement receivingunit 26 and that of the engagement body 9 b of the buckle 9 come incontact with each other in a state of the opening and closing cover 8being overlapped on the player main unit 6. Then, the engagement body 9b is made to move backward against the spring force of the spring 150 byfurther pushing the buckle 9, and to climb over the tip portion of theengagement receiving unit 26. Subsequently, the opening and closingcover 8 is fastened and locked firmly with the buckle 9 by engaging theengagement body 9 b with the engagement receiving unit 26.

Thus, by sliding the sliding member 151 in the rightward direction inFIG. 17 against the spring force of the spring member 152, the camportion 155 b provided in the sliding member 151 makes the cam portion155 a provided in the engagement body 9 b move backward. As a result,the engagement body 9 b moves backward from the surface of the holder153 to the inside thereof, and the engagement of the engagement body 9 bwith the engagement receiving unit 26 of the opening and closing cover 8is released.

Then, as releasing the sliding member 151, the sliding member 151 slidesleftward by the spring force of the spring member 152. With this, thecam portion 155 b is separated from the cam portion 155 a, thereby theengagement body 9 b returning to the original state and protruding bythe spring force of the spring 150.

The state in which the opening and closing cover 8 is locked with thebuckle 9 can be easily released by the following two aspects of theinvention. A first unlocking operation is to slide the sliding member151 in the circumferential direction. At this time, by sliding thesliding member 151 in the transverse direction, the engagement body 9 bmoves backward against the spring force of the spring 150. Then, theengagement of the engagement receiving unit 26 with the engagement body9 b is released.

As a result, the buckle 9 can be pulled up, and the engagement body 9 bis largely pulled apart from the engagement receiving unit 26 by thepulling-up operation to make the pulling-up operation of the opening andclosing cover 8 possible. In such a case, the pulling-up operation ofthe buckle 9 may be easily and smoothly performed with a small force.

Moreover, a second operation for unlocking a locked state of the openingand closing cover 8 is to directly pull up the buckle 9, omitting theoperation of sliding the sliding member 151. In such a case, when thebuckle 9 is pulled up, larger pulling-up force than that in the firstunlocking operation is required as the spring force of the spring 150,that of the spring member 152 and the movement of the sliding member 151become a resisting force. However, the pulling-up operation of thebuckle 9 may be executed in a comparatively simple manner by adequatelysetting the magnitude of the spring forces of the spring 150 and thespring member 152.

In order to detect the opening and closing operation of the buckle 9, anopening and closing protrusion 156 is provided at the inside of thebuckle 9. A buckle detection hole 27 corresponding to the opening andclosing protrusion 156 is provided on the front surface of the notch 22of the player main unit 6. A buckle opening and closing switch, which isa second detector to detect the opening and closing operation of thebuckle 9, is arranged at the inside of the buckle detection hole 27. Atthis time, with completely installing the buckle 9 and locking theopening and closing cover 8, the opening and closing protrusion 156 isinserted into the buckle detection hole 27. Accordingly, the buckleopening and closing switch is operated by the opening and closingprotrusion 156, and the locked state of the buckle 9 is detect.

As shown in FIG. 1 and in other figures, on the side surface of theplayer main unit 6, there are provided a first socket 28, a secondsocket 29 and an earphone jack 30; display lamps such as a charge lamp31 a and a power supply lamp 31 b; and operation means 32 such as areproducing button and a volume switch. The first and second sockets 28and 29, and the earphone jack 30 are disposed on the left side-surfaceof the player main unit 6, and the display lamps and the operation means32 are disposed on the right side-surface of the player main unit 6.

The battery housing 3 for the player main unit 6 having suchconfiguration is installed in a detachable manner as a power supplydevice. As shown in FIGS. 1, 14 and in other figures, the batteryhousing 3 comprises a first battery case 34 and a second battery case35, and the both cases 34 and 35 are pivotally connected to each other.

The battery cases 34 and 35 are comprised of flat holders each inrectangle shape with the plane shapes being approximately similar, andthe lower battery case 35 as the second battery case is longer in thelongitudinal direction than the upper battery case 34 as the firstbattery case. Further, the widths of the both battery cases 34 and 35are slightly wider than those of the protruding portion 6 a of theplayer main unit 6 and the protruding portion 8 a of the opening andclosing cover 8.

As shown in FIG. 2 and in other figures, connection portions 34 a and 35a which are outwardly protruding at the both sides in the widthwisedirection are provided at the one end of each battery case 34 and 35 inthe longitudinal direction. The upper and lower battery cases 34 and 35are integrally formed by pivotally connecting each of the connectionportions 34 a and 35 a, respectively. The second friction mechanism isprovided in the battery housing 3.

As shown in FIG. 15, the second friction mechanism comprises: a frictionring 110 in a ring shape indicating one specific example of a frictionplate set between the connection portions 34 a and 35 a of the upper andlower battery cases 34 and 35; a metal washer 111 which is in contactwith the upper connection portion 34 a of the upper battery case 34; aspring 112 which presses the lower connection portion 35 a of the lowerbattery case 35 to the friction ring 110; and others. A shaft 113protruding to the side of the upper connection portion 34 a is providedin the lower connection portion 35 a, and the plastic friction ring 110is loosely engaged with the shaft 113.

The shaft 113 is loosely inserted through the through hole 114 providedin the upper connection portion 34 a. Further, a screw hole is providedon the surface of the tip of the shaft 113, and a washer 115 is fixedthrough the screw hole with a fixing screw 116. Also, theabove-described metal washer 111 is loosely engaged with the shaft 113such that the upper connection portion 34 a is held between the frictionring 110 and the metal washer 111, and one end of the spring 112 isseated on the metal washer 111. The other end of the springs 112 isseated on the metal washer 115 in a compressed state.

According to the second friction mechanism with such a configuration, bythe spring force of the spring 112, one surface of the upper connectionunit 34 a is pressed into contact with one surface of the friction ring110, and the lower connection portion 35 a is pressed into contact withthe other surface of the friction ring 110, and also the metal washer111 is pressed into contact with the other surface of the upperconnection portion 34 a. As a result, the frictional force is generatedbetween the upper connection portion 34 a and the friction ring 110; andbetween the upper connection unit 34 a and the metal washer 111, andalso the frictional force is generated between the lower connectionportion 35 a and the friction ring 110.

With the above frictional forces, friction is generated on the openingand closing cover 8 being pivotal with respect to the player main unit6. By suitably setting the magnitude of the friction, the magnitude ofthe force for opening and closing the battery housing 3 may bepreferably set, and the upper battery case 34 housing heavy batteriesmay be halted at an arbitrary opening and closing angle and that statemay be kept.

Thus, the battery housing 3 may be placed in either a closed state inwhich the upper and lower battery cases 34 and 35 are opened at apredetermined distance approximately being parallel to each other in thevertical direction, or an open state in which the inclined upper batterycase 34 is opened at an arbitrary angle (for example, 45 degrees, 60degrees, and the like) with respect to the lower battery case 35. Thedistance between the battery cases 34 and 35 in the closed state, inwhich the upper and lower battery cases 34 and 35 are approximatelyparallel to each other, represents the thickness of the player main unit6, and the player main unit 6 is inserted between the upper and lowerbattery cases 34 and 35.

In order to position the player main unit 6 inserted as described above,an engagement concavo-convex portion 36 is provided at the end of theupper battery case 34. A hook 37 with an L-shape cross section isprovided in the opening and closing cover 8, corresponding to theengagement concavo-convex portion 36. The hook 37 is arranged in theneighborhood of the engagement receiving unit 26 on the opening andclosing cover 8. By engaging the engagement concavo-convex portion 36with the hook 37, positioning of the upper battery case 34 with respectto the opening and closing cover 8 and joining of the opening andclosing cover 8 to the upper battery case 34 may be simultaneouslyexecuted.

Further, a fixing screw 38 is pivotally provided in the lower batterycase 35. The fixing screw 38 is arranged at a position corresponding tothe protruding portion 6 a of the player main unit 6 in the lowerbattery case 35. A screw hole is provided on the rear surface of theplayer main unit 6, corresponding to the fixing screw 38, and the lowerbattery case 35 is fixed to the player main unit 6 by screwing thefixing screw 38 into the screw hole.

In a state in which the lower battery case 35 is fixed, the upperbattery case 34 is pivoted integrally with the opening and closing cover8. That is, the opening and closing cover 8 may freely cover or exposethe disc housing unit 7 while the upper battery case 34 is fixedthereto. A suitable number of rechargeable secondary batteries 40 arestored in the upper battery case 34.

Further, an appropriate number of rechargeable secondary batteries 40and a safety circuit 41 are contained in the lower battery case 35. Thesafety circuit 41 may detect abnormalities with respect to the electricpower such as larger flow of current from the battery housing 3 thanthat of a rated one, decrease in voltage than a set value, and the like.

In such case, when the safety 41 detects large current or abnormalitiesin the voltage, it is decided that there are abnormalities in any of thesecondary batteries stored in the upper and lower battery cases 34 and35, and alarm signals are output to take necessary countermeasures suchas display of warning, disconnection of the currents or the like. Here,it is preferable that each secondary battery 40 is provided with athermal fuse so that temperature control and the like are executed foreach secondary battery 40.

The safety circuit 41 is connected to a connector 42 shown in FIG. 4 andFIG. 14. The connector 42 is provided integrally on the rear surface ofthe lower battery case 35. A plug 43 provided in a detachable manner onthe rear surface of the player main unit 6 is connected to the connector42. Accordingly, the connector 42 is automatically connected to the plug43 of the player main unit 6 by installing the battery housing 3 in theplayer main unit 6, whereby electric power is automatically suppliedfrom the battery housing 3 to the player main unit 6.

As materials for the above configured player main unit 6, opening andclosing cover 8, buckle 9, and the upper and lower battery cases 34 and35, engineering plastic, for example, ABS (acrylonitrile butadienestyrene resin), POM (polyacetal resin) or the like may be applied.Moreover, aluminum alloys and other metals may be used for thematerials.

Furthermore, the control device 2 has such a configuration as shown inFIGS. 1 and 19A to 19C, and in other figures. That is, the controldevice 2 comprises: a cabinet 50 which represents one specific exampleof a housing; a liquid crystal display 51 which represents one specificexample of a display unit; a cover 52 which covers and uncovers thedisplay surface of the liquid crystal display 51; an operation unit 53comprised of various kinds of switching means, adjusting means, and thelike; an electronic circuit which is stored in the cabinet; and otherunits.

The cabinet 50 comprises a hollow housing in an approximatelyquadrilateral shape, and an opening window 54 is provided as slightlyshifted to one end in the longitudinal direction which is a transversedirection. In addition, a plurality of opening holes (three holes in thepresent embodiment) 55 a, 55 b and 55 c are provided at appropriatedistances in the widthwise direction at the other end in thelongitudinal direction of the cabinet 50. The liquid crystal display 51is fitted into the opening window 54, and various kinds of operationbuttons in the operation unit 53 are inserted into the plurality ofopening holes 55 a to 55 c, respectively.

In the first opening hole 55 a located at the upper part, an operationbutton 56 a is installed as a basic operation switch by which basicoperations such as reproduction, fast-forwarding and rewinding areexecuted. With regard to the operation button 56 a, on/off operation ofreproduction may be realized by pushing, for example, the center part ofthe button 56 a. And, fast-forwarding or rewinding operation may beselectively executed by pushing either side of the button.

In the second opening hole 55 b located at the center, a selectionbutton 56 b is installed as a mode selection switch by which modeselection and decision may be executed. With regard to the selectionbutton 56 b, various kinds of modes may be selected by pushing, forexample, any of the upper, lower, right and left parts of the button 56b, and the selected mode may be decided by pushing the center part ofthe button 56 b after the selection. In addition, in the third openinghole 55 c located at the lower part, a power supply button 56 c isinstalled as a power supply switch. On/off of the power supply isexecuted by sliding the power supply button 56 c in the transversedirection.

Furthermore, a long hole 55 d extended in the widthwise direction isprovided on the side surface of the cabinet 50 which is the side of theopening holes 55 a to 55 c. In the long hole 55 d, two adjusting buttons56 d and 56 e are installed as volume switches for adjusting the volume.The adjusting button 56 d is to turn up the volume, and the otheradjusting button 56 e is to turn down the volume.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 20 and other figures, a connection unit 58 ofthe cover 52 is provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 50. Theconnection unit 58 comprises: protruding rails 59 a and 59 b provided onthe upper surface of the cabinet 50; protruding rails 60 a and 60 bprovided on the upper side of the cover 52; a connection block 61 whichlies between the protruding rails 59 a, 60 a and the protruding rails 59b, 60 b; two spring pins 62 and 63 which represent one specific exampleof resisting means; and the like.

Two sets of the protruding rails 59 a, 60 a and 59 b, 60 b areconfigured to have similar shapes and structures, and to be arranged onthe same shaft center lines at a predetermined distance, respectively.One end of spring pins 62 and 63 in the axial direction is pressed underpressure into internal end surfaces of the protruding rails 59 a, 60 aof one set, respectively.

As shown enlarged in FIG. 19C, the spring pins 62 and 63 are metalcylindrical tubes formed with slits 62 a and 63 a. Each slit of 62 a and63 a of the spring pins 62 and 63 is continuously provided from one endto the other end of the cylindrical tubes, and the diameters of thosepins may be elastically reduced only by the amounts of each width of theslits 62 a and 63 a, whereby elasticity is given to the whole structure.

Here, the shapes of the slits 62 a and 63 a of the spring pins 62 and 63are not limited to a waveform shown in the drawing according to thepresent embodiment, and another shape such as a straight-line, acurved-line, saw-toothed, or a horny one may be formed. As materials forthe spring pins 62 and 63, metal such as spring steel, stainless steelor the like may be preferable, but engineering plastic may also beapplied.

Further, convex shaft portions 62 b, 63 b protruding toward the springpins 62 and 63 are provided in the internal end surface of protrudingrails 59 b, 60 b of the other set, respectively. The diameters of eachconvex shaft portion 62 b, 63 b are set to approximately equal to theouter diameters of the spring pins 62 and 63, respectively. The twoconvex shaft portions 62 b, 63 b and the protruding portions of the twospring pins 62, 63 are covered with the connection block 61.

As shown in FIG. 21, the connection block 61 is formed by a combinationof a first block 61 a and a second block 61 b which are formed likegutters, and a fixing screw 64 for tightening and fixing both the blocks61 a, 61 b. A through hole 65 is provided at approximately the centerpart of the first block 61 a, and a boss 66 is arranged at approximatelythe center part of the inner surface of the second block 61 b. Further,a screw hole 66 a into which a screw portion of the fixing screw 64 isfastened is provided at the boss 66.

The second block 61 b is pressed on one side of the protruding portionsof the two spring pins 62, 63 and the two convex shaft portions 62 b, 63b, and then the other side is covered by the first block 61 a.Thereafter, the fixing screw 64 is made to penetrate through both theblocks 61 a, 61 b, and its screw tip is screwed into the screw hole 66 aof the boss 66, and to tighten the both blocks.

By constructing as described above, the cabinet 50 and the cover 52 arepivotally connected using the connection block 61 by a connection unit58 which has hinged structures at two locations. In such a case, theamounts of reduction in the diameters of the spring pins 62 and 63 maybe adjusted by adjusting the tightening force of the fixing screw 64. Asa result, frictional forces generated between the connection block 61and the spring pins 62, 63 may be varied by changing the diameters ofthe spring pins 62 and 63. Accordingly, operational forces required atoperation of the cover 52 may be appropriately adjusted by changing thefrictional force for opening and closing the cover 52.

Moreover, the cover 52 comprises a plate body with a size which maycover approximately an entire display surface including the liquidcrystal display 51 of the cabinet 50. The above-described protrudingrails 60 a and 60 b are provided integrally at the upper edge of thecover 52. The cover 52 and the cabinet 50 are pivotally connected by theconnection unit 58 which has the hinged structures at two locations.

Thus, the cover 52 may be pivoted at a maximum angle of approximately360 degrees with respect to the liquid crystal display 51 which is adisplay surface. Accordingly, by pivoting and moving the cover 52 at anangle of approximately 360 degrees backward, the cover 52 itself mayfunction as a stand for the cabinet 50.

A first pivoting shaft parallel to the display unit is formed by theabove first spring pin 62 and convex shaft portion 62 b of the cabinet50. The cabinet 50 and the connection block 61 are pivotally connectedaround the first pivoting shaft. Further, a second pivoting shaft isformed by the second spring pin 63 and the convex shaft portion 63 b onthe side of the cover 52. The second pivoting shaft is parallel to thefirst pivoting shaft, and the cover 52 and the connection block 61 arepivotally connected around the second pivoting shaft. The cover 52 maybe fixed at an arbitrary position with respect to each pivoting shaftwith a frictional force generated between the connection block 61 andthe spring pin 62 or 63.

The electronic circuit contained in the cabinet 50 executes not onlycontrol on the control device 2, but also remote control on the playermain unit 6. Therefore, though not shown in the figures, the electroniccircuit comprises: a microcomputer which may execute predeterminedcontrol; a storage device (RAM) in which a predetermined program hasbeen previously installed; a storage device (ROM) in which arbitraryinformation may be recorded; and other electronic members.

Engineering plastic such as ABS, POM or the like may be applied asmaterials for the cabinet 50, the cover 52, and the connection block 61of the control device 2 in the above-described configuration. However,the materials are not limited to the above plastic, and aluminum alloysor other metals may be used for the materials.

As shown in FIG. 1, at one corner of the bottom surface as a first sidesurface, one end of a first connection cable 4 which connects thecontrol device 2 to the player main unit 6 is pivotally supported by apivot-supporting unit 160. In order to secure the pivoting operation bythe pivot-supporting unit 160, an opening 168 which is opened to thebottom surface and to the right side surface as a second side surfaceperpendicular to the bottom surface, is provided at one corner of thebottom surface of the cabinet 50.

As shown in FIG. 31, a pivot-supporting unit 160 comprises: on the sideof the cable 4 a pivoting shaft portion 161 which shows one specificexample of a pivoting convex portion; and on the side of the cabinet 50shaft receiving portions 162 a and 162 b which show one specific exampleof a pivoting concave portion. The pivoting shaft portion 161 includes:a covering member 75 through which a number of wire rods 163 areinserted; a wire-rod direction shaft portion 164 through which thecovering member 75 is inserted; and a crossing-direction shaft portion165 which is extended in a direction perpendicular to the wire-roddirection shaft portion 164.

The wire-rod direction shaft portion 164 and the crossing-directionshaft portion 165 are integrally formed. And, as shown in FIG. 30, atthe both end surfaces of the crossing-direction shaft portion 165, apair of shaft receiving holes 166 a and 166 b each comprising a circularconcave recess representing one specific example of a tubular shaftreceiving portion are provided.

It is preferable that the pivoting shaft portion 161 having theabove-described configuration is integrally formed with a number of wirerods 163 and the covering member 75 by insert molding. According to theinsert molding, troublesome work in assembling a number of wire rods 163to be inserted into the shaft portions 164, 165 after the shaft portions164, 165 are molded, may be eliminated. Obviously, it may be acceptableto separately mold the shaft portions 164, 165 in the first place, andto insert wire rods 163 in the second place. Here, a splicer 167 havinga number of terminals is fitted to one end of a number of wire rods 163.

Further, the shaft receiving portions 162 a and 162 b are formed asshown in FIG. 29. Specifically, a pair of shaft portions 172 a and 172 bpositioned opposing to each other, and annular grooves 173 a and 173 barranged around the shaft portions 172 a and 172 b, respectively, areprovided in the shaft receiving portion 162 a on a front plate 170 andthe shaft receiving portion 162 b on a back plate 171 both of which formthe cabinet 50. Ring-shaped convex portions provided at each end of thecrossing-direction shaft portion 165 are pivotally engaged with theabove annular grooves 173 a and 173 b, respectively. And, each shaftportion 172 a and 172 b is pivotally engaged with the shaft receivingholes 166 a and 166 b provided at both end surfaces of thecrossing-direction shaft portion 165, respectively.

In addition, two stoppers 174 a and 174 b are provided at the inside ofan opening portion 168 of the front plate 170 to limit the pivotingangle of the pivoting shaft portion 161. The two stoppers 174 a and 174b are provided at positions such that the pivoting shaft portion 161 maypivot by an angle of approximately 90 degrees, and the two stoppersfunction as a locking member.

Furthermore, a partition 175, which lifts the wire rods 163 and bendsthem to the side of the back plate 171 as shown in FIG. 31, is providedat the inside of the shaft receiving portion 162 a on the front plate170. The partition 175 is set higher than the height at which the wirerods 163 are inserted into the cabinet 50. Lifting the wire rods 163with the partition 175 prevents the wire rods 163 from being scraped anddisconnected against the edge of the printed-circuit board 177 mountinga socket 176 to which the splicer 167 is connected.

FIG. 33 shows a pivot supporting unit according to a second embodimentof the present invention. The pivot supporting unit 180 comprises: apivoting shaft portion 181 which is a pivoting convex portion integrallyprovided with the covering member 75, and a pair of spherical bodyreceiving portions 182 and 182 which are pivoting concave portions topivotally support the pivoting shaft portion 181. The pivoting shaftportion 181 comprises a spherical body 183 in spherical shape, and atubular shaft portion 184 which is provided such that the portion 184passes through the spherical body 183, wherein a number of wire rods 163are inserted into the tubular shaft portion 184.

The pair of spherical body receiving portions 182 and 182 are arrangedto be opposed to each other at a predetermined distance, and a receivingspherical surface is formed on each surface. The spherical body 183 issupported by the pair of spherical body receiving portions 182 and 182,whereby the pivoting shaft portion 181 is pivotally supported by apivoting angle of 360 degrees in a direction intersecting with thedirection which connects the pair of the spherical body receivingportions 182 and 182.

Consequently, by pivoting the pivot-supporting unit 160 (or 180), thelead-out direction of the first connection cable 4 from the opening 168of the cabinet 50 to the outside may be selectively changed between adirection in which the connection cable 4 is led downward from the lowersurface of the cabinet 50 and a direction intersecting with the lowersurface in which the cable is led sideways to the right side surface.

A first plug 70 to connect the player main unit 6 is integrally attachedto the other end of the connection cable 4. The first plug 70 comprises:a plug main body 71 having a hollow body with a quadrilateral section, acap 72 in a semicircular shape which is joined to the rear side of theplug main body 71, a terminal cover 73 which is protruding from the tipof the plug main body 71, and the like.

A tip end of the cap 72 is formed thinner in the width. And, protrudingguide rails 74, which regulate the inserting direction when the cap 72is inserted into the first socket 28 of the player main unit 6, areprovided at two positions on one surface of the thinner part of the cap72. Corresponding to the protruding guide rails 74, a pair of guidegrooves 28 a which are slidably fitted to the rails are provided in thefirst socket 28.

In addition, in order to prevent insertion error, a convex portion 74 awhich protrudes forward like a circular arc is provided at the tip endof a thicker end on one surface of the plug main body 71. Also, for thatpurpose, a concave portion corresponding to the convex portion whichopens at the tip end of a thicker end of the plug main body 71 like acircular arc is provided.

As described above, since the convex and concave portions which preventinsertion error are provided at the tip end of the plug inserting end ofthe plug main body 71, a number of terminals disposed in the terminalcover 73 may be prevented from being damaged by insertion error of thefirst plug 70. Moreover, since a pair of protruding guide rails 74 areprovided in the plug main body 71, terminals in the terminal cover 73may be prevented from being damaged by tensile external-forces in thedirection of twisting to extract the first plug 70.

In the terminal cover 73 of the first plug 70, which is comprised of aslender frame with a quadrilateral section, a number of terminals arearranged in a row (or in a plurality of rows) along the longitudinaldirection. And, one end of a covering member 75 which is extendingsideways is connected to the rear part of the cap 72. A number of wirerods 163 are inserted through the covering member 75, and the controldevice 2 and the player main unit 6 are electrically connected by theabove wire rods 163.

By setting the pulling-out direction of the wire rods sideways asdescribed above, the lead-out direction of the connection cable 4 may beregulated such that the above lead-out direction is approximately thesame direction as the longitudinal direction of the battery housing 3.Accordingly, loads applied to the connection portion of the first plug70 of the connection cable 4 may be reduced, whereby troubles such as ashort circuit and an open circuit may also be reduced. Here, the plugmain body 71 of the first plug 70 is inserted up to the root of theprotruding guide rails 74.

Further, a second plug 77 provided at one end of the second connectioncable 5 to connect the player main unit 6 to other electronic devices isinstalled in a detachable manner in the second socket 29. The secondplug 77 has a terminal cover 78 which is protruding from the tip on theplug inserting side. The terminal cover 78 comprises a slender framewith a quadrilateral section. A number of terminals are arranged in arow (or in a plurality of rows) along the longitudinal direction in theabove cover 78.

One end of the wire rods 79 is connected to the rear surface of thesecond plug 77, and the other end of the wire rods 79 is connected to aconnector 80. The connector 80 connects the player main unit 6 to otherelectronic devices (for example, a television set). The secondconnection cable 5 is formed of the second plug 77, the wire rods 79,and the connector 80.

The connector 80 comprises a hollow housing in a flat shape, and thewire rods 79 are connected to one end surface. A plurality of terminals81 are arranged in a row on the other end surface of the connector 80.As the above terminals 81, for example, a video terminal, an S1 videoterminal, right and left audio terminals or the like may be listed.

An electronic device with the above-described configuration may be usedin the following way, for example. The battery housing 3 is integrallyjoined to the player main unit 6 in advance. That is, the player mainunit 6 is inserted from its protruding portion 6 a into between theupper battery case 34 and the lower battery case 35 of the batteryhousing 3. Then, the engagement concavo-convex portion 36 of the upperbattery case 34 is made to engage the hook 37 of the opening and closingcover 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, at this time the plug 43 provided in the player mainunit 6 is engaged with the connector 42 provided in the lower batterycase 35 by inserting the player main unit 6 up to a predeterminedposition. As a result, the player main unit 6 and the battery housing 3are electrically connected to each other. Subsequently, the fixing screw38 of the lower battery case 35 is screwed into a screw hole of theplayer main unit 6 to fasten the above case 35 and the main unit 6.Fitting the battery housing 3 to the player main unit 6 is thuscompleted.

Then, the first plug 70 of the first connection cable 4 is inserted intothe first socket 28 of the player main unit 6, and the control device 2is connected to the player main unit 6 through the first connectioncable 4. With this, the player main unit 6, the battery housing 3 andthe control device 2 are electrically connected to each other to enablethe operation of the DVD player 1.

Thus, the control device 2 and the player main unit 6 are connectedthrough the wire rods 163, whereby a remote control signal may be sentfrom the control device 2, which is a controller, to the player mainunit 6 through the wire rods 163. Further, when the player main unit 6reproduces the information recorded in an optical disc according to theremote control signal sent from the control device 2, the reproductionsignal is sent to the control device 2 through the wire rods 163.

The control device 2 which has received the reproduction signal displaysthe received reproduction signal on the liquid crystal display 51 as apicture. A user reproduces the information previously recorded in adisc, and by watching the picture the user enjoys the information as thepicture. Audio information may also be enjoyed simultaneously through anearphone by connecting the earphone to the player main unit 6.

Operation to install an optical disc in the player main unit 6 of theDVD player 1 may be performed in the following manner, for example. Inthe first place, the buckle 9 is pulled up, and the locked state of theopening and closing cover 8 with the buckle 9 is released. That is, thebuckle 9 may be caught with a finger to be pulled up against the springforce of the spring member 152. With this, the buckle 9 is directlypulled up without the sliding operation of the sliding member 151 and isunlocked in a simple manner.

In this case, since the spring force of the spring member 152 becomesresistant to the pulling-up operation of the buckle 9, applying acomparatively large force to the buckle 9 is required.

As a different manner, sliding operation of the sliding member 151 tounlock with a small force the locked state of the buckle 9 is provided,wherein the engagement body 9 b is made to move backward by theoperation to release the engagement with the engagement receiving unit26. With this, the locked state of the buckle 9 is released and thebuckle 9 is pulled up easily with a small force by pivoting the buckle 9around the hinge unit 21.

Thus, when the buckle 9 is pulled up, the opening and closing protrusion156 provided on the inner surface of the buckle 9 is extracted from thebuckle detection hole 27 provided on the front surface of the playermain unit 6. Then, the detector which detects the locked state of thebuckle 9 becomes off, and the detection signal is sent to the controldevice 2.

Then, the engagement receiving unit 26 exposed by pulling up the buckle9, or the like is held by a fingertip to lift the front side of theopening and closing cover 8 to an arbitrary height. Accordingly, thedisc housing unit 7 provided on the upper surface of the player mainunit 6 is released, and the disc drive device 10 is exposed.

At this time, the opening and closing detection piece 19 of the openingand closing cover 8 is extracted from the detection hole 20 for thecover of the player main unit 6. Then, the detecting switch whichdetects opening and closing state of the opening and closing cover 8becomes off, and the detection signal is sent to the control device 2.When neither a signal of the opening and closing cover 8 indicating itsopen state nor the detection signal of the above buckle 9 are suppliedto the control device 2, that is, when the opening and closing cover 8is open or when the buckle 9 is open, the disc drive device 10 is notdriven.

Here, the upper battery case 34 of the battery housing 3 is movedintegrally with the opening and closing cover 8 and is lifted upwardtherewith. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, the disc housing unit 7 is opened,and the turntable 11 of the disc drive device 10 is exposed. Thereafter,a desired optical disc is installed on the turntable 11 to executechucking of the optical disc.

Then, the opening and closing cover 8 is pushed down together with theupper battery case 34, and the disc housing unit 7 is closed with theopening and closing cover 8. At this time, by completely closing theopening and closing cover 8, the opening and closing detection piece 19is inserted into the detection hole 20 for detecting the state of thecover. As a result, the detecting switch which detects the closed stateof the opening and closing cover 8 becomes on, and the detection signalis supplied to the control device 2. The driving of the disc drivedevice 10 will not be started only by this detection signal.

Then, the buckle 9 is pushed up to engage the engagement body 9 b withthe engagement receiving unit 26. Thus, the opening and closing cover 8is firmly locked to the player main unit 6 with the buckle 9. At thistime, by completely closing the buckle 9, the opening and closingprotrusion 156 is inserted into the buckle detection hole 27. As aresult, the detecting switch which detects the locked state of thebuckle 9 becomes on, and the detection signal is supplied to the controldevice 2. This detection signal and the above-described detection signalfor the opening and closing cover are both supplied to the controldevice 2, whereby the disc drive device 10 starts driving.

Although the DVD player 1 thus prepared is available for indoor use, itis preferably used outdoors. In such a case, it is preferable toconstruct the DVD player 1 such that the DVD player 1 is suspended froma neck etc. to be portable with a strap not shown in the figures.

In such a case, the user may enjoy picture information recorded on anoptical disc with holding the control device 2 by hands for theoperation, using the liquid crystal display 51 of the control device 2.Further, the user may enjoy audio information recorded on an opticaldisc with earphones connected to the earphone jack 30.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the operation on the control device 2 willbe described. FIG. 22A shows a state in which a user holds the controldevice 2 by hand, and the cover 52 is opened at an angle of slightlysmaller than 90 degrees with respect to the liquid crystal display 51 ofthe display surface of the cabinet 50.

In this case, a frictional force generated between the spring pin 63 ofthe second pivoting shaft and the connection block 61 is set to besmaller than a frictional force generated between the spring pin 62 ofthe first pivoting shaft and the connection block 61 (for example, thethickness of the spring pin 62 is set to be larger than that of thespring pin 63, and the elasticity of the spring pin 62 is set to belarger than that of the spring pin 63.).

At first, the first pivoting shaft is in a state of being fixed, and thecover 52 is rotated around the second pivoting shaft. When the amount ofpivoting with respect to the second pivoting shaft becomes maximum, thecover 52 starts to pivot around the first pivoting shaft.

In the first place, the cover 52 is pulled up by a fingertip whichcaught the free end thereof. Since the frictional force caused by thespring pin 62 of the first pivoting shaft is larger than that of thespring pin 63 of the second pivoting shaft, the cover 52 is pivotedaround the spring pin 63 of the second pivoting shaft and the secondconvex shaft portion 63 b.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22A, when the cover 52 is stopped at an arbitraryangle of smaller than 90 degrees, the cover 52 is fixed by thefrictional force of the spring pin 63 at an angle at which the cover 52has been stopped. In such a state, though a user may watch contentsdisplayed on the liquid crystal display 51, it is difficult for othersto look in the contents, thereby preventing the contents from beingpeeped by surrounding others.

FIG. 22B shows a state in which a user holds the control device 2 byhand, and the cover 52 is opened at an angle of 90 degrees to the liquidcrystal display 51 of the cabinet 50. Since the cover 52 is stopped atan angle of about 90 degrees, the cover 52 may be used as a sunshade.

Further, FIG. 23A shows a state in which the cover 52 is pivoted at anarbitrary angle of equal to or larger than 270 degrees to the displaysurface of the cabinet 50, and the cabinet 50 and the cover 52 aremounted on a plane P (mounting surface) such as a desk or the like attheir free ends, respectively. The above state shows the result afterthe connection block 61 is pivoted from the state shown in FIG. 22B by180 degrees around the spring pin 62 of the first pivoting shaft and thefirst convex shaft portion 62 b.

Subsequently, the cover 52 is pivoted at an arbitrary angle of smallerthan 90 degrees around the spring pin 63 of the second pivoting shaftand the second convex shaft portion 63 b. With this, as shown in FIG.23A, the cover 52 may be used as a stand for supporting the cabinet 50.In this case, a user may freely change the angle of inclination of thecover 52 to the cabinet 50, whereby the display surface of the liquidcrystal display 51 is set for the user to watch the display surfacewithout difficulties.

FIG. 23B shows a state in which the cover 52 is pivoted by 360 degreeswith respect to the display surface of the cabinet 50, and is right onthe rear surface of the cabinet 50. In this case, the cover 52 will notbecome an obstacle when a user watches the display surface while holdingthe control device 2 by hands.

FIG. 24A shows another embodiment in which, of those two spring pins 62and 63 used in the above described control device 2, the spring pin 63of the second pivoting shaft is replaced with a rotating shaft 67, andthe cover 52 and the connection block 61 are pivotally connected by therotating shaft 67. In this case, the protruding rails of the cabinet 50and the connection block 61 are pivotally connected with a frictionalforce caused by the elasticity of the spring pin 62 in a similar mannerto that of the above embodiment. Here, anti-slipping rubbers 68 a and 68b are stuck as an anti-slipping member on free ends of the cover 52 andthe cabinet 50, respectively.

FIG. 24B is an explanatory view of the operation of the control device 2shown in FIG. 24A. FIG. 24B shows a state in which a user holds thecontrol device 2 by hands, and the cover 52 is opened at an angle of 90degrees to the display surface of the cabinet 50. With this state, thedisplay surface may be watched by a user without difficulties using thecover 52 as a sunshade.

As shown in FIG. 24B, when the rotating shaft 67 is moved to thediagonally rear position of the spring pin 62, the rotating shaft 67pivotally connects the cover 52 and the connection block 61 without anyfrictional force. However, the cover 52 may be held at a position atwhich the body 52 is pivoted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees tothe display surface of the cabinet 50 only by the frictional force basedon the elasticity between the spring pin 62 and the connection block 61.

FIG. 24C shows a state in which the cover 52 is pivoted at an arbitraryangle of equal to or larger than 270 degrees to the display surface ofthe cabinet 50, and the cabinet 50 and the cover 52 are mounted on aplane P (mounting surface) such as a desk or the like at the free ends,respectively. In this state, the cabinet 50 may be kept standing on ahorizontal plane by using the cover 52 as a supporting stand. Thus, auser may freely change the angle of inclination of the cover 52 to thecabinet 50, whereby the display surface of the liquid crystal display 51is set for the user to watch the display surface without difficulties.

Moreover, since the anti-slipping rubbers 68 a and 68 b are fitted tothe free ends of the cabinet 50 and the cover 52, there is nopossibility that the control device 2 slides on a plane P such as a deskor the like. Accordingly, the inclination angle of the cabinet 50 may bekept at an arbitrary angle by using the cover 52 as a supporting stand,even when the rotating shaft 67 is used as one pivoting shaft.

FIG. 25 shows a further embodiment in which the diameters of two springpins 62 and 63 are made to be different to have different magnitude ofelasticity. For example, with regard to a pair of spring pins 62 and 63,the diameter of the first spring pin 62 is made to be smaller, and thatof the second spring pin 63 is made to be larger, and the frictionalforce of the second spring pin 63 is set to be larger than that of thefirst spring pin 62. In this embodiment, similarly to the embodimentshown in the above FIGS. 22A, 22B and the like, the spring pin 62 with asmaller elasticity is configured to be preferentially pivoted, andpivoting of the spring pin 63 with a larger elasticity will be startedafter the pivoting amount of the spring pin 62 becomes the maximum.

In this embodiment, whenever the cover 52 is made to be opened or closedwith respect to the display surface of the cabinet 50, first the cover52 is pivoted around the first pivoting shaft with the spring pin 62having a smaller elasticity, and secondly the cover 52 is pivoted aroundthe second pivoting shaft with the spring pin 63 having a largerelasticity.

Specifically, with opening and closing operation of the cover 52, theconnection block 61 is first pivoted with respect to the cabinet 50around the spring pin 62. Secondly, the cover 52 is pivoted with respectto the connection block 61 around the spring pin 63. In this embodiment,with regard to the first and second pivoting shafts arranged parallel toeach other, a pivoting shaft with the spring pin 62 having a smallerelasticity is preferentially pivoted, whereby pivoting of the cover 52to the cabinet 50 may be smoothly executed.

FIG. 26A shows further embodiment in which a clicking plate 69 isprovided as resisting means instead of one of the above two spring pins,for example, the spring pin 63. In the control device 2 shown in thisembodiment, the angle of the cover 52 to the display surface of thecabinet 50 may be selected from a plurality of stages at a predeterminedangle (four stages by 90 degrees in the present embodiment). Here, bothof the frictional force of the clicking plate 69 and that of the springpin 63 may be set to have the same magnitude or to have differentmagnitudes.

FIG. 26B shows an exploded and enlarged view of the clicking circularplate 69 shown in FIG. 26A. A clicking convex circular plate b is fixedto the base of the cover 52 with fixing means such as adhesives. On theclicking convex circular plate b, four convex portions 69 a with thesame radius are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferentialdirection. A clicking concave circular plate c is set to oppose to theclicking convex circular plate b.

One concave portion 69 b is provided on one surface of the clickingconcave circular plate c such that the portion 69 b is disposed with thesame radius as the four convex portions 69 a to engage with or separatefrom each convex portion 69 a. On the other surface of the clickingconcave circular plate c, one surface of a corrugated plate spring dwith a ring shape is fixed by fixing means such as welding. The othersurface of the corrugated plate spring d is fixed on the base e of theconnection block 61 with fixing means such as adhesives.

Thus, the clicking circular plate 69 has a multilayer structurecomprising the clicking convex circular plate b, the clicking concavecircular plate c and the corrugated plate spring d. The clickingcircular plate 69 is located between the base a of the cover 52 and thebase e of the connection block 61.

Accordingly, when the cover 52 is pivoted, any one of four convexportions 69 a on the clicking convex circular plate b protrudes from theconcave portion 69 b of the clicking concave circular plate c, whereby africtional force is generated by the elasticity of the corrugated platespring d until the other adjacent convex portion 69 a engages with theportion 69 b. The cover 52 is held at an arbitrary angle to the displaysurface of the cabinet 50 by the above frictional force.

Further, the cover 52 is locked at a predetermined angle with respect tothe display surface of the cabinet 50 by engaging the convex portion 69a on the clicking convex circular plate b with the concave portion 69 bon the clicking concave circular plate c. Thereafter, when the cover 52is pivoted, click feeling is obtained by extracting the convex portion69 a from the concave portion 69 b as the cover 52 is pivoted. Thus,change in the angle of the cover 52 is reliably detected by the touch,according to the click feeling at insertion of the convex portion 69 awith respect to the concave portion 69 b.

FIG. 27A shows further embodiment in which the clicking positions areset at two positions on the above-described clicking plate 69, and alsothe clicking plate 69 is provided on the first pivoting shaft and thespring pin 63 is provided on the second pivoting shaft. On the clickingplate 69, two convex portions 69 a with the same radius are arranged inthe circumferential direction at equal intervals. Note that thestructure of the clicking concave circular plate c and that of thecorrugated plate spring d are similar to those of the above describedembodiments.

In this case, both the frictional force of the clicking plate 69 andthat of the spring pin 63 may be set to have the same magnitude or tohave different magnitudes. In this embodiment, the frictional force ofthe clicking plate 69 is set to be larger than that of the spring pin63.

As shown in FIG. 27B, when the cover 52 is opened, the second pivotingshaft with a smaller frictional force is first pivoted, and secondly thefirst pivoting shaft with a larger frictional force is pivoted. When apulling-up force is applied to the free end of the cover 52, the cover52 is opened at an angle of slightly over 180 degrees with respect tothe display surface of the cabinet 50 with the spring pin 63 of thesecond pivoting shaft being a pivoting center. At this time, africtional force is generated between the spring pin 63 and theconnection block 61, and the cover 52 is pivoted with a frictional forcecaused by the elasticity of the spring pin 63.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 27C, when the cover 52 is further opened,the clicking plate 69 and the connection block 61 are pivoted by 180degrees with the clicking plate 69 of the first pivoting shaft being apivoting center. Accordingly, the cover 52 is opened by 360 degrees withrespect to the display surface of the cabinet 50, and the cover 52reaches the rear of the cabinet 50.

At this time, click feeling is obtained by operating the clicking plateat the beginning of pivoting and at the termination of pivoting, andduring pivoting the cover 52 is pivoted with a frictional force by aspring force of the corrugated plate spring d. As described above, thecover 52 is pivoted with the click feeling and the frictional force.

FIG. 28 shows another embodiment of resisting means in which loads isgiven to the cover 52 when the body 52 is pivoted. The resisting meansdescribed in this embodiment comprises a gear device 83 and a damperdevice 87. The control device 2 shown in this embodiment is providedwith the gear device 83 comprising two gears 84 a and 84 b, and thedamper device 87 as resisting means, instead of one of theabove-described two spring pins, for example, the spring pin 62.

A rotating shaft 85 is provided as a first pivoting shaft in the controldevice 2, and the connection block 61 is fixed in the middle of therotating shaft 85 in the axial direction. One end of the rotating shaft85 is protruding sideways, passing through the cabinet 50, and asmaller-diameter gear 84 a is fixed to the protruding unit. Alarger-diameter gear 84 b is engaged with the smaller-diameter gear 84a, and a shaft 88 protruding to one side is provided in thelarger-diameter gear 84 b.

The shaft 88 of the larger-diameter gear 84 b is pivotally passedthrough the side surface of the cabinet 50. And, the tip of the shaft 88is inserted into the damper device 87 contained in the cabinet 50. Aresisting force such as an adhesive force, a frictional force or thelike is given by the damper device 87 when the shaft 88 is pivoted, andas the device 87, for example, a liquid damper utilizing liquid or othertypes of damper devices may be used. 86 is a gearbox which covers thelarger and smaller gears 84 a and 84 b.

In this embodiment, when the cover 52 is pulled up and the connectionblock 61 is pivoted, the rotation shaft 85 and the smaller-diameter gear84 a are rotated integrally with the connection block 61. Since thelarger-diameter gear 84 b is constantly engaged with thesmaller-diameter gear 84 a, the shaft 88 is pivoted by an amountcorresponding to the reduction ratio between the gears 84 a and 84 b. Aresisting force is generated in the damper device 87 according to thepivoting amount of the shaft 88, and the connection block 61 is pivotedwith respect to the cabinet 50 according to the above resisting force.Accordingly, the cover 52 may be pivoted in a smooth way with anadequate resisting force, and also the cover 52 may be reliably fixed atan arbitrary position in the middle of the pivoting.

Further, as shown in FIG. 34, the control device 2 is configured suchthat the operation button 56 a, selection button 56 b, and other buttonsare operated by user's hand, while the device is being held by the sameone hand. In this case, the connection cable is pivoted through thepivoting unit to change the pulling-out direction of the cover 75, inwhich a number of wire rods are inserted, from the right side of thesecond side surface to the bottom side of the first side surface.

At this time, the connection cable 4 is pivotally connected to thecabinet 50 through the pivot-supporting unit 160 (or 180), and thelead-out direction can be changed from a sideways direction to adownward direction of the cabinet 50 within a range of approximately 90degrees.

The lead-out direction of the connection cable 4 is required to belateral when the control device 2 is mounted on a mounting surface of aplane P such as a desktop. However, if the control device 2 is held by ahand as it is, the connection cable 4 becomes an obstacle to the user asit is difficult to carry the device and operate operation button 56 aand the like.

On the other hand, if the lead-out direction of the connection cable 4is set downward as shown in FIG. 34, the control device 2 may be held bya hand without difficulties, as the connection cable 4 does not becomean obstacle but extends in the direction along the user's hand to thearm. Moreover, although the operation button 56 a and the like areusually operated by a thumb, the connection cable 4 does not extend inthe direction of the movement of user's thumb at the operation of theoperation button 56 a and the like. Therefore, the connection cable doesnot become an obstacle and the operation button 56 a and the like areeasily operated by one hand.

The control device 2 with the above configuration is not limited to theuse for the DVD player 1 in the above embodiments, but it is alsopreferably used for PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a small-type wordprocessor, a small-type microcomputer, an electronic dictionary, aportable television set, a small electronic clock, and the like, forexample. Further, the control device 2 with the above configuration maybe also applied to desktop-type devices of the above-listed electronicequipment, and other electronic devices.

Further, FIG. 18 shows a state in which the DVD player 1 is connected toa domestic power supply or the like which is not shown in the figure tocharge the battery housing 3 of a power-supply device. In FIG. 18, anumeral 90 represents a holding stand to keep and hold the player mainunit 6. The holding stand 90 comprises a holding portion 90 a in whichholding grooves are formed on the upper surface and a holding platform90 b which is continuing to the lower part of the holding portion 90 a.The holding platform 90 b of the holding stand 90 is extended and widelyformed such that a sufficiently large mounting surface is secured.

Furthermore, supporting pieces 91 and 92 which support the side surfaceof the player main unit 6 are provided at both sides of the holdingportion 90 a in the direction of the holding grooves. A pawl portion 91a which is engaged with a concave part provided on the side surface ofthe player main unit 6 is provided on the tip of the supporting piece91. By providing the pawl portion 91 a, it becomes possible to securelyhold the DVD player 1, in which weight distribution has beenill-balanced in the circumferential direction according to the installedbattery housing 3, without rolling even in a state in which the batteryhousing 3 is turned sideways.

Here, a numeral 93 indicated in FIG. 18 represents a third connectioncable connecting a power supply such as a domestic socket to the playermain unit 6. A charging plug 94 is fitted to one end of the connectioncable 93. The charging plug 94 is made to be detachable with respect tothe second socket unit 29 of the player main unit 6. By pressing asemicircle part at the center of the charging plug 94, a terminalportion is moved backward to release connection to the second socketunit 29.

The description has been made as described above, however, the presentinvention is not limited to the above embodiments. In those embodiments,a DVD player 1 is used as the information reproduction system and theremote control device 2 with a liquid crystal display is provided as anelectronic device thereof. However, needless to say, devices such as aportable CD player, a portable disc drive device or other devices mayalso be applied as the information reproduction system, and the controldevices thereof are used as the electronic devices.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiments, the present invention hasbeen applied to information reproduction system which performs onlyreproduction on information signals. However, needless to say, thepresent invention may be applied to an information recording and/orreproduction system which may record new information signals as well asreproduce information signals, and also applied to information recordingsystem only for recording information signals.

Moreover, in the above embodiments, there have been described examplesin which the player main unit 6 and the control device 2 are connectedto each other by wire, but needless to say, wireless means may beconfigured to be applied as signal transmission means, wherein theplayer main unit 6 and the control device 2 are connected to each otherby radio for sending/receiving signals.

Moreover, though embodiments in which an optical disc is used as aninformation storage medium are described, a tape-type recording medium,a drum-type recording medium, a semiconductor storage medium, and thelike may also be used as the information storage medium.

Thus, various modifications may be applied without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

Industrial Applicability

According to the electronic device of the present application, theconnection cable led to the outside through the opening of the housingis configured to be supported in a pivotable manner with respect to thehousing, whereby the lead-out direction of the connection cable may bechanged to an arbitrary position corresponding to the state of useregarding the electronic device. Accordingly, the connection cable ledout from the housing may not become an obstacle to the user to operatethe electronic device, which improves the convenience with respect tosuch electronic devices.

Further, according to the information reproduction system of the presentapplication, the system can be used indoors, and also preferably usedoutdoors, as the player main unit is carried outdoors by hanging it fromthe neck of the user with a strap or the like and the control device isoperated being held by one hand of the user. Therefore, video and audioinformation recorded on an optical disc may be easily enjoyed with aliquid crystal display, earphones, and the like.

1. An electronic device comprising: a cabinet in which an electroniccircuit is contained; a covering member containing wire rods connectedto said electronic circuit and led to an exterior of said cabinetthrough an opening in said cabinet; a pivoting shaft portion provided onsaid covering member; and a shaft receiving portion provided in saidcabinet for pivotally supporting said pivoting shaft portion, whereinsaid covering member is pivotally supported with respect to said cabinetby cooperation between said pivoting shaft portion and said shaftreceiving portion.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1,wherein said pivoting shaft portion comprises a pair of receiving holesrespectively arranged at both ends of said pivoting shaft portion in adirection intersecting with a extending direction of said wire rods insaid covering member, and said shaft receiving portion comprises a pairof tubular protruding portions provided in said housing and pivotallyengaged with said pair of receiving holes, respectively.
 3. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: a remotecontrol unit for sending a remote control signal through the wire rodsto an information reproducing device connected by said wire rods; and adisplay unit mounted in said housing and receiving through said wirerods a reproduction signal reproduced by said information reproducingdevice according to said remote control signal and for displaying thereproduction signal as a picture, wherein a pivoting unit including saidpivoting shaft portion and said shaft receiving portion is provided in acorner of a first side surface of said housing, and when said electronicdevice is held by a user said covering member is led out in a directionextending along a hand and an arm of the user by pivoting said coveringmember to a side of said first side surface through said pivoting unit.4. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: aremote control unit for sending a remote control signal through saidwire rods to an information reproducing device connected by said wirerods; a display unit receiving through said wire rods a reproductionsignal reproduced by said information reproducing device according tosaid remote control signal and for displaying the reproduction signal asa picture; and a stand provided such that said display unit is supportedat a predetermined angle with respect to a mounting surface on whichsaid electronic device is mounted, wherein when said electronic deviceis mounted on said mounting surface with said stand, a pivoting unitincluding said pivoting shaft portion and said shaft receiving portionis provided in a corner of a first side surface of said housing that isin contact with the mounting surface, when said electronic device ismounted on said mounting surface with said stand, said covering memberis pivoted through said pivoting unit to a side of a second side surfaceintersecting with said first side surface, and when said electronicdevice is held by a user, a lead-out direction of said covering memberwith respect to said housing is changed by pivoting said covering memberto a side of said first side surface through said pivoting unit.
 5. Anelectronic device comprising: a cabinet in which an electronic circuitis contained; a covering member containing wire rods connected to saidelectronic circuit and led to an exterior of said cabinet through anopening in said cabinet; a pivoting shaft portion having a sphericalbody provided on said covering member; and a spherical body receivingportion provided in said cabinet for pivotally supporting said sphericalbody, wherein said covering member is pivotally supported with respectto said cabinet by cooperation between said spherical body and saidspherical body receiving portion.
 6. A player unit comprising: anelectronic device including, a cabinet in which an electronic circuit iscontained, a covering member containing wire rods connected to saidelectronic circuit and led to an exterior of said cabinet through anopening in said cabinet, a pivoting shaft portion provided on saidcovering member, and a shaft receiving portion provided in said cabinetfor supporting said pivoting shaft portion; and an informationreproducing device connected to said electronic device through said wirerods, wherein said covering member is pivotally supported with respectto said cabinet by cooperation between said pivoting shaft portion andsaid shaft receiving portion.